Self-Managed vs Fully Managed Care | CareAbout
Explore the difference between Self Managed and Fully Managed home care packages under Australia’s new Support at Home program. Find out which option gives you more control, flexibility and value for your personal care budget.
At a glance:
- Self-managed care gives you control over who provides your care and how your budget is spent
- Fully managed care means a provider coordinates everything on your behalf (through their dedicated Care Partner)
- Both options are still available under Australia’s new Support at Home (SAH) program
- The right choice depends on your personal circumstances, level of confidence in your abilities, and your support network
First Thing’s First: What Is Self-Managed Home Care?
Self managed home care is an option that puts you, or a trusted family member, in the driver’s seat when it comes to your aged care. Rather than having a provider manage your care on your behalf, you take an active role in choosing your own support workers, scheduling services and overseeing how your home care budget is used.
This approach is growing in popularity across Australia. While self-managed care can be a powerful way to stretch your care budget further, maintain independence and receive support that is genuinely tailored to your lifestyle, there are a few important considerations, which we’ll run through shortly.
What Is the Support at Home (SAH) Program?
The Support at Home (SAH) program is the Australian Government’s reformed aged care program, replacing the previous Home Care Packages (HCP) program. It is designed to give older Australians greater choice, flexibility and transparency in how they receive care at home, which you can explore further in our all-inclusive guide to Support at Home here.
Under Support at Home, eligible participants receive funding to access a range of services, everywhere from personal care and domestic assistance to nursing and allied health support – delivered in the comfort of their own home.
Importantly, Support at Home is compatible with both Fully Managed and Self Managed arrangements, meaning you can choose the level of involvement that suits you best.
Key Support at Home Changes to Know:
- From 1 November 2025, SAH replaced Home Care Packages (HCP) and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) program
- Participants are assessed and if eligible, are allocated one of eight funding classification levels
- Funds can be directed toward a wide range of home-based supports
- Self-management is an endorsed option under the Support at Home framework
Self Managed vs Fully Managed Home Care: What’s the Difference?
Choosing between Self Managed (SM) and Fully Managed (FM) care is one of the most important decisions you will make when accessing home care funding.
Here’s how these two care approaches compare:
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Fully Managed (FM) | Self Managed (SM) |
| Who coordinates care? | A dedicated Care Manager from your chosen SAH provider | You coordinate your own services and service providers |
| Level of involvement | Low: Your chosen SAH provider manages your day-to-day requirements | High: You choose, schedule and manage your own care according to your needs |
| Degree of flexibility | Structured around SAH provider’s systems | Full freedom to select any approved service provider |
| Management fee | Higher: This fee is higher in order to cover coordination costs | Lower: This fee is lower as you’re managing yourself, which frees funds, otherwise spent on admin, to now go directly to your care |
| Support at Home (SAH) compatible? | Yes | Yes |
| Ideal for? | People who want peace of mind and to feel at ease with less responsibility and admin | Those who want control, to maximise their budget, and feel confident managing themselves |
| Family involvement | Can be involved, but your SAH provider leads | You can lead your own care, or lean on your family, along with your support network, to play an active coordination role |
What are the main benefits of Fully Managed Home Care?
- A dedicated care manager coordinates your services, scheduling and reviews
- Strong support network for people who want reassurance and continuity
- Provider handles all compliance, invoicing and fund management
- Ideal if you have complex care needs or limited capacity to self-coordinate
- Less day-to-day involvement required from you or your family
What are the main benefits of Self-Managed Home Care?
- You select your own support workers and service providers
- Greater transparency over how your budget is spent
- Lower management fees mean more funds available for direct care
- You set your own schedule and can change service providers at any time
- Works best when you or a family member are organised and confident with scheduling care and budgeting online
Why Would I Choose to Self-Manage My Support at Home Funding?
Self management is not right for everyone, but for those who are suited to it, the advantages can be significant:
More money for care: Management fees in a self managed arrangement are typically lower. This means a greater proportion of your funding goes directly toward the supports you actually need.
Your choice of service providers: You are not limited to workers from a single agency. You can engage support workers, cleaners, therapists and other professionals that you trust and feel comfortable with.
Flexibility and control: Change your schedule, swap service providers or adjust your services quickly – all without going through layers of approval.
Transparency: You have full visibility over your budget, invoices and spending, giving you confidence that your care funds are being used as intended.
Continuity of relationships: When you choose your own workers, you’re more likely to build stable, long-term relationships with the people who support you.
Who Is Self-Management Best Suited To?
Self management is a great fit for people who:
- Are organised and comfortable managing schedules, invoices and communications
- Have a family member or trusted person who can assist with coordination if needed
- Want to maximise the value of their care funding
- Prefer to work with specific support workers they already know and trust
- Feel confident navigating the aged care system with some guidance
Self-management is less suitable (and often not recommended) if you:
- Have complex care needs that require close clinical oversight
- Have limited capacity or support to manage administrative tasks
- Prefer to hand full responsibility to an experienced SAH provider
- Are already feeling heavily stressed and overwhelmed
How to Get Started With Self-Managed Home Care?
If you think self-management could be right for you, here are the steps to get started:
- Contact My Aged Care (1800 200 422) to check your eligibility and request an assessment.
- Apply for an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessment to determine your Support at Home eligibility.
- Wait for an assessor to contact you to arrange an assessment. Usually, you will be contacted within 2 to 6 weeks.
- Await your official Notice of Decision letter to arrive, which will detail your Support at Home classification level.
- Wait for a letter in the mail confirming your funding has been allocated. This can take up to several months depending on your priority level.
- Choose a registered home care provider who supports a self managed model – simply call CareAbout at 13 13 00 or complete our online form here: https://www.careabout.com.au/, and we’ll match you with a registered Support at Home provider who supports a self-managed model based on your location, needs, and preferences.
- Work with your SAH provider to set up your care plan and identify the services and workers you would like to engage.
- Review your budget regularly and adjust services as your needs change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Self-Managed Care
Can I switch from Fully Managed to Self-Managed?
Yes, you can change your care management arrangement with sufficient notice to your SAH provider. However, it’s important to note that if you try the Self-Managed route and this proves to be too difficult, time-consuming or otherwise, you can simply switch back to your Fully Managed SAH provider given you provide sufficient notice – we can help to make this transition as easy and smooth as possible.
Is Self-Management available under the new Support at Home program?
Yes, the Support at Home (SAH) program continues to remain an option just as it previously was under the former Home Care Packages (HCP) program. It provides eligible care recipients greater choice as to how their funding is used.
Do I need to find my own support workers?
Under a self-managed arrangement, you have the freedom to engage your own workers, which includes those workers you already know (and trust). Alternatively, your chosen SAH provider can help you to identify suitable workers if preferred/needed.
Will I pay lower fees if I choose to self-manage my care?
Ultimately, in most cases, yes. Management fees are typically lower under a self-managed model because your chosen provider does not coordinate your care on your behalf, which frees part of your budget, otherwise spent on care admin fees, directly to your services.
What if my needs change?
One of the strong benefits of self-management is truly, flexibility. You can choose to adjust your services, add new supports if your budget allows, or even move to a fully-managed arrangement should your circumstances (or preferences) change.
Did You Know CareAbout Can Help You Find A Self-Managed Support at Home Provider?
Simply freecall us at 13 13 00 and we can help you navigate your self-managed care journey with greater ease, clarity, and confidence. We will listen to your needs and preferences, and connect you with a trusted aged care provider who supports a self-managed care model.
We can also help you to seamlessly transition from a self-managed arrangement to a fully managed arrangement should you choose to change paths.
We’re 100% free, independent, and here to CareAbout You. We’re built on the wholehearted belief that absolutely no one should ever feel alone when seeking the quality aged care they deserve.
We understand how complex, overwhelming and simply stressful the aged care system can be. We’re here to cut through the noise, and empower you with the advice and knowledge you need to ensure your care is based on confidence, not a compromise.
